Friday, August 22, 2014

OBSESSED WITH PROSPERITY

The Day of Judgment is coming as society becomes increasingly obsessed with prosperity and security.

“For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them” (1 Thessalonians 5:3). The Greek word Paul uses for peace is “eirene” which implies prosperity. Sudden destruction is about to break forth in that day when men’s minds are focused on riches. Money madness! Greed! Accumulating! Hoarding! Jesus warned us it will be a time when men’s hearts would fail them for fear, watching the terrible things coming upon the earth. Men will yearn for something certain, something secure. It does not say it will be a time of peace and safety, only that they will say, “Peace and safety.” It will be all they talk about. Their conversation will be about money, possessions, investments, how to find a secure haven for their assets!

Never in world history have men become so driven by a quest for money. Prosperity is the American dream! The stock market has become one gigantic gambling casino. Millions of Americans gamble by playing the lottery or visiting casinos, hoping to get rich overnight. Why such an obsession to make it big? Because everyone knows a storm is coming. The entire world awaits with anxiety that one day when a financial meltdown hits. They are trying to secure themselves against that awful time, hoping to outride the storm.

The obsession for prosperity has even corrupted the church. How Paul would have grieved had he known a day would come when ministers of the gospel turned Christ's covenant into a covenant of cash. The church once stood before the world as a testimony against greed and materialism, against the love of things, against self-love, hoarding and covetousness. But now the world sees the church as its biggest competitor for the good life. The world laughs and mocks at Christians reject the sufferings of Christ to indulge in the riches of this age.

“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16-17).